SHILLONG: The president and three other members of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Driver and Owner Association (MCTODA) were arrested on the intervening night of November 4 and 5, following a confrontation between protesting members and police near Mawrynkneng Junction.
The arrested individuals include:
Moslandar Marngar (President of MCTODA) from Mawkawah in West Khasi Hills.
Heibor Pariat from Raid West Jaintia Hills.
Teibor Marngar from Rambrai, West Khasi Hills.
Thrangbor Lyngdoh from Kyrdum, West Khasi Hills.
Background to the Agitation
The MCTODA had initiated an indefinite protest starting from October 27, 2025. The core demands of the truck owners and drivers were that cement factories should exclusively assign transportation work to local truck drivers and pay transportation fares in accordance with the rates fixed by the State Government.
Mawrynkneng Junction Incident
According to information obtained from the police, at approximately 12:40 AM of November 5 (early morning), police personnel who were escorting cement and clinker trucks from Puriang were blocked by a group of over 200 MCTODA members at Mawrynkneng Junction.
A Magistrate on duty reportedly appealed to the crowd to cease obstruction of the trucks’ movement, but the protestors allegedly defied the order.
The police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the large gathering.
During the incident, a handyman of one of the trucks was allegedly dragged away by the public, and a truck driver sustained injuries after being assaulted by the crowd.
The police have stated that they had earlier directed personnel from Ri Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills to escort the movement of the trucks.
Legal Action Taken
Following the event, the police registered three separate cases at Mawryngkneng Police Station for obstruction of duty and allegedly threatening the officers on duty.
The four arrested leaders has been produced before the Court today.
